Champagne Conditions at West Kirby Open

West Kirby SC hosted the 12th round of the Lark Class travellers circuit on 14th & 15th July. The short recovery time to next weeks nationals put some regular travellers off, however those that made the journey were treated to champagne Lark sailing.

On Saturday the competitors faced a steady 20 knots of breeze, and as the tide turned the chop built making the down wind legs fast and furious. Steve Cumley & Eluned Jones won all 3 races but never had it easy. Chris & Anne Biglin were hot on there heels in race 1 and 3, but a nose dive too many in the second race, allowed Steve Chatten & Kirsty Phipps through for a well deserved second place.

Thanks to West Kirby’s faultless race management the fleet were able to enjoy a lazy sunny afternoon at the pub, nursing a variety of injuries that included backs, knees and wrists.

To everybody’s delight Sunday brought lighter winds and much calmer water. Stuart & Julia Allen won race 4 after cunningly reading the tide on the first run to gain an unassailable lead. At the start of race 5 Cumley/Jones and the Biglins successfully port tacked the fleet and sailed off to first and second. The Allens battled with Chatten/Phipps throughout and on the final lap managed to pull ahead to claim 3rd and 3rd overall.

Our thanks go to West Kirby SC for organising a fantastic weekends racing, and to Pinnell and Bax, Speed Sails and Pedrollo for sponsoring the Lark Belle Isle Circuit.